Latest news with #2025EconomicOutlook
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Independence Through Entrepreneurship: The Brothers That Just Do Gutters Highlights Franchisee Success Stories for Independence Day
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As Americans prepare to celebrate the nation's 249th birthday, The Brothers That Just Do Gutters is spotlighting three franchise owners who have found their own form of independence—financial, professional and personal—through business ownership with the rapidly growing home-services brand. "Entrepreneurship remains one of America's most enduring expressions of freedom," said Danny Horboychuk, brand president of The Brothers That Just Do Gutters. "Our franchise system gives veterans, corporate professionals and community leaders a turnkey path to control their futures while delivering a service every homeowner needs." Patrick Neil, U.S. Army Captain (Ret.) – Capitol District, by 9/11, Neil enlisted straight out of high school, graduated from West Point and served 13 years before retiring as a captain. After stints at Nucor and Amazon, he sought a business that blended hands-on outdoor work with a strong cultural fit. "Brothers Gutters struck the perfect balance of field work and leadership development," Neil said. "It lets me keep serving—this time my neighbors." Chad and Amanda Rowland – Tri-Cities, two decades in medical-device sales and Amanda's career as a speech-language pathologist fueled a desire to invest in their own community. Drawn by the brand's culture and proven systems, the couple surpassed first-year revenue goals and now employ a growing team. "Franchising gave us a blueprint; Brothers Gutters gave us the people who truly care about our success," Chad noted. Richard Tice – Coastal North, N.C.A longtime small-business owner, Tice recognized a local need for customer-focused exterior contractors. He built his operation on integrity, craftsmanship and a family-oriented workplace. "Providing reliable gutter solutions is how we strengthen the community we call home," he said. Their successes reflect broader economic trends. The International Franchise Association's 2025 Economic Outlook projects nearly 851,000 franchise establishments nationwide this year, adding about 210,000 jobs—growth that outpaces the overall U.S. economy. The Brothers That Just Do Gutters, a member of Evive Brands, is currently expanding into new markets across the United States and actively seeking qualified franchise candidates who are ready to join a values-driven brand committed to craftsmanship, professionalism, and community impact. To learn more about franchise opportunities with The Brothers That Just Do Gutters, visit Media Contact: Rhonda Grundemann at 602-739-8810 or rgrundemann@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Brothers that just do Gutters Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Barnama
22-04-2025
- Business
- Barnama
OCBC CUTS MALAYSIA'S 2025 GDP FORECAST TO 4.3 PCT
BUSINESS OCBC Chief Economist Selena Ling speaks during a press conference at The Linc today on the 2025 Economic Outlook, focusing on the global economy following the announcement of new tariff policies by the US government on April 2 this year. KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Bhd has revised Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2025 to 4.3 per cent from 4.5 per cent on a weaker external demand outlook. Chief economist and head of global market research and strategy Selena Ling said the adjustment reflects growing concerns over weakening external demand and persistent global economic headwinds. She said the 4.3 per cent growth projection is based on a 24 per cent reciprocal tariff on Malaysian exports to the US announced in early April. 'But, this is the big caveat, there's downside risk. For Malaysia, semiconductors and electronics and electrical (E&E) exports are very important; it's almost 80 per cent of Malaysia's total exports to the US. 'So at some point, if the semiconductor tariff does come in, there will be further pressure on growth. Our worst case scenario, we are probably looking somewhere closer to 3.5 per cent,' she told the media during OCBC's 2025 economic outlook today. She said the exemptions for semiconductors and associated products have provided some reprieve because about 46 per cent of Malaysia's exports to the US are still exempt from tariffs based on the latest regulations. This includes E&E appliances products, and encompasses electronic integrated circuits, photovoltaic cells, communication apparatus and automatic data processing machines. More importantly, the US Trump administration has not ruled out the imposition of a semiconductor tariff, which will impact the economy, she said. Ling noted that Malaysia's 24 per cent reciprocal tariff rate is lower than Vietnam's 46 per cent, Cambodia's 49 per cent, Thailand's 37 per cent and Laos' 48 per cent. This allows it to maintain its relative competitiveness for companies geared towards exporting to the US.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Housing affordability remains a top economic concern for Flathead Valley
Feb. 13—While Montana ranks high for new jobs, most of the salaries associated with available positions are not conducive to living in gateway communities like the Flathead Valley. Montana has become a top five state in job creation over the past year yet is ranked low when it comes to wage growth, according to Jeff Michael, director of the University of Montana's Bureau of Business and Economic Research. While population growth has decreased in Montana, according to the annual 2025 Economic Outlook presented on Tuesday in Kalispell by the University of Montana, it is still difficult to afford housing. "It's good news, bad news," Michael said. "It's easy to find a job in Montana where you're adding jobs, but the sectors that are adding the most jobs have below average pay." In addition to discussing housing, the outlook focused on Montana's artificial intelligence future, population and recreation growth since the Covid-19 pandemic. The National Association of Realtors ranked Montana as the least affordable state in 2024, based on current home listings compared to local incomes. Job growth in 2024 was skewed toward lower-paying service sectors. "There's no doubt that Montana has a housing cost challenge," Michael said. Home prices, compared to the median household income, are particularly high, Michael said while noting that mortgage rates also impact affordability. Mortgage rates saw fluctuations in 2024, but the average 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.85% at the end of December, according to the government-sponsored home lender Freddie Mac. Michael predicts rates will stay elevated in 2025. "The National Park counties are the ones that have seen the highest increases in home prices, especially here in the Flathead," he said. Population growth has continued to slow in the state. The U.S. Census Bureau in July 2024 put Montana's population at 1,137,223, an increase of 5,931 from the same month the year prior. Migration to the state has fallen 75% since it peaked during the pandemic. In 2021, the state population was 1,106,366 and sat at 1,122,878 in 2022, according to the Montana Department of Commerce. Looking ahead, 2025 will continue to see a slowed growth trend, according to presenters. Population growth will slow further, interest rate sensitive sectors will get little relief, and the economy will feel the effects of mining and wood mill closures. Further down the road, Michael suggests that growth may pick back up with moderate population growth, technology sector growth statewide and investing more in mining, energy and tourism. Parts of Tuesday's conversation looked at policy changes that the second Trump administration has implemented or suggested. Montana is among the lowest states for export dependence, meaning that the enforcement of tariffs won't hit the state as hard as other manufacturing focused states. Montana should also be relatively unimpacted by immigration changes, Micheal said. This year, a key issue will be federal spending and where federal money is allocated. From Medicaid to military jobs to federal agencies, Montanans rely on federal funds. Integrating artificial intelligence, or AI, into the workforce has the potential to add more productivity as well, according to Paul Gladen, the associate vice president for research and economic development at the university. Flathead County ranks well in terms of health care, according to Patrick Barkey, the director of research for the bureau, among other counties with hospital systems. It is one of 20 counties to receive a top health care employment rate ranking statewide. However, it is estimated that over half the hospitals in rural America are losing money. Putting an end to the state's Medicaid program, Barkey said, would result in less compensated care, further adding to that strain and leaving thousands of Montanans without health care. In Flathead County, health care falls behind construction, accommodation and food, professional and technological services and wholesale trade as more prominent industries. Although, Barkey said, the county has had a "nice bounce back" in health care after some turbulent years. The pandemic was hugely disruptive to most health care providers, with labor costs spiking and inflation bringing costs up. Pre-pandemic trends in job growth, wage levels and medical inflation have since resumed, helping with the "bounce back." Montana's outdoor recreation industry grew by just over 7% in 2023, according to Melissa Weddell, the director of the university's Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, with nearly 3 million visitors to Glacier National Park in 2023 alone. "Something that is going to be unique in this region is seasonal workers," Weddell said, referring to the Flathead. "Many have had contracts retracted. Our national parks and our public lands really use thousands of seasonal workers... that'll have interesting pressures on the surrounding gateway communities." Especially with the high cost of living in areas like the Flathead Valley and the greater Yellowstone area. Officials expect a strong and steady visitation record for 2025 as well with room to expand recreation opportunities during the shoulder season. Meanwhile, infrastructure in the valley continues to expand. "Steady as she grows," Lorraine Clarno, president of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, said. Glacier Park International Airport saw the highest amount of traffic last year with more than 1 million passengers, according to the chamber. That is an increase of 12.6% from the year prior and a 21% increase from 2022. Clarno said she doesn't expect visitation numbers to overwhelm infrastructure moving forward. Despite growth and changes in technology, the cost of living in Northwest Montana seems to be staying stagnant at a high level. While Kalispell has seen a decrease in residential and multi-family building permit requests, Clarno said that a lot of units are slated to be constructed this year. "We still have a huge affordability issue in our community, there's no ifs ands or buts," she said. Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@ Lorraine Clarno, President and CEO of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, speaks during the 2025 Economic Outlook Seminar held at the Wachholz College Center at Flathead Valley Community College on Tuesday, Feb. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider
